by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant has heard the Michael Jordan comparisons his entire life. Wednesday, he joined Jordan in another exclusive club.

The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard reached 30,000 points during the first half of a game at the New Orleans Hornets. He needed 13 points entering the game and finished with 29 in a 103-87 win.

The 30,000th point came not on a dunk, which would have been a fitting reminder of his dunk champion younger days, or three-pointer, the dominant shot during his time as the NBA's best scorer in his late 20s and early 30s. Instead, he drove past Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu and lofted a shot over center Robin Lopez.

It was vintage Kobe Bryant, any era.

Bryant discussed retiring in two years, when his current contract ends, earlier this season. He has the numbers to join the all-time greats already.

"Honestly, I don't know why I'm still working as hard as I am after 17 years," Bryant said. "I enjoy what I do. I think that's the thing that I'm most proud of: every year, every day working hard at it. It's a lot of years, a lot of work."

Bryant already was fifth in NBA history in points Here's the list, including Wednesday's game:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 38,387

2. Karl Malone, 36,928

3. Michael Jordan, 32,292

4. Wilt Chamberlain, 31,419

5. Kobe Bryant, 30,016

"It's pretty awesome," Bryant said. "These are players I respect tremendously and obviously grew up idolizing and watching and learned a great deal from."

NBA Commissioner David Stern was at the game, and he effused praise on the Lakers superstar.

"As a talent, a competitor, I think that he is up there on the pedestal with Michael Jordan. He is one of the greatest," Stern said before the game.

Stern spoke with Bryant before the game. "He just congratulated me and told me I was one of the best competitors that he's seen in this game and I really appreciated that," Bryant said.

Julius Erving scored 30,026 points over his career in the ABA and NBA, and Bryant should fly by him for fifth place on that list Friday at the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has been renewed this season and leads the NBA in points a game.

But they rebounded well Wednesday. Along with Bryant's big night, Dwight Howard added 18 points and five blocks and Antawn Jamison had 15 while starting in place of Pau Gasol. They also found a potential answer at point guard, as Chris Duhon had 10 assists while Steve Nash and Steve Blake remained out with injuries.

Ryan Anderson led all scorers with 31 points for the banged-up Hornets.

"He's a special guy to play against. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win," Anderson added. "I would have liked him to get the 30,000, but for us to get the win."